Latin American travellers have shown that they are aware of the impact of their travels on the destinations they visit. According to a recent Booking.com survey* on sustainable tourism, while globally 60% of tourists tend to recognise the impact of travel on local economies, among Latin Americans this figure rises to 75% of respondents, followed by recognition of the impact on local communities (61%) and nature (58%).
The annual survey also reveals that 94% of Latin American travelers highlighted the importance of sustainable travel, the highest percentage among the regions participating in the survey, and that for 73% of them, access to nature was an added value when staying in accommodations with sustainable practices. With this in mind, Booking.com has selected some Latin American destinations ideal for more conscious travel, which offer good stay options with sustainability certifications from independent institutions.
Argentina
The province of Córdoba, known for its valuable cultural, historical and natural heritage, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Argentina. And Villa General Belgrano, La Cumbre and San Javier are some of the destinations in the province that offer different accommodations with sustainable certifications. In Villa General Belgrano, for example, the Blackstone Country Villages hotel participates in the "Greenest Hotels" program and works to improve waste management, train staff in the matter and use renewable energy to reduce the amount of waste. Posada Rural La Matilde is part of the same sustainability program.
Mexico
In Mexico, among the destinations with a good offer of stays with sustainability certifications is Puebla, which is located about 130 km from the capital, Mexico City, and promises a traditional experience, with a historic center declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, as well as good restaurants and even volcanoes in its surroundings. Quinta Real Puebla is a great option to stay in the city center, with the FEE's Llave Verde sustainable certification, as well as a Mexican restaurant and a bar with live music. Another destination in the country with several certified stays, Monterrey, in the state of Nuevo León, is surrounded by mountains and has an old town with preserved historical buildings, as well as nearby caves that can be visited. For your stay, the Hilton Garden Inn Monterrey Obispado has three third-party sustainability certificates and has a restaurant and outdoor terrace.
Colombia
Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, is a must-visit destination for visitors to the country, with a historic center of imposing buildings, museums, bohemian neighborhoods, and walks to discover the destination’s natural beauty, such as Cerro Monserrate. The city also has several accommodation options that have been recognized for their sustainability policies, such as the Bioscore-certified Avani Royal Zona T Bogotá hotel and the LEED-certified W Bogota. Another Colombian destination where travelers can book accommodations that care about the environment and local communities is Cali, which has a strong music scene, museums, and delicious traditional cuisine. There, the NH Boulevard del Río Cali hotel is also Bioscore-certified.
Brazil
Brazil also has certified accommodations for its sustainability measures. Bonito in Rio Grande do Sul, for example, is a city well known for the ecotourism opportunities it offers, from floating in crystal-clear rivers to visiting flooded caves and caverns, which promise stunning scenery. The VOA Hotel Paraíso das Águas Bonito is certified for Green Tourism and implements practices such as waste reduction, composting and recycling. Another certified hotel in the country that is a good option for those visiting Belo Horizonte is the Hilton Garden Inn Belo Horizonte Lourdes, with three sustainability certifications, an outdoor pool and the option of an apartment with a hot tub.
Costa Rica
Popular among nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, Costa Rica offers beautiful natural landscapes, such as paradisiacal beaches, national parks, waterfalls, volcanoes and forests, and is home to a significant diversity of fauna and flora. Its capital, San José, is home to good accommodation options recognized for their sustainable actions, such as the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel Hacienda Belen, located in an old farm and offering beauty treatments made with coffee, volcanic ash and other natural Costa Rican ingredients, and the Hotel Villa Los Candiles, with an outdoor pool and gardens, both with the "Costa Rica Certification for Sustainable Tourism".
Source: Booking.com